Hunger Awareness Week
This week, May 5-9 is Hunger Awareness Week in Canada. Foodbanks Canada and its partners across Canada use this week to highlight the problem of hunger in the country. Everyday across Canada The Salvation Army, through its local churches, community and social units, serves hungry Canadians. Through feeding programs, cooking classes, food banks and other initiatives The Salvation Army seeks to serve hungry individuals and families, providing food and related skills.
Click here to read about the School Lunch Program.
Throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador local Salvation Army churches and units are part of the fight against hunger. In a province and country where the majority of people enjoy the ability to feed themselves and their families there are those who continue to provide the basic necessities of life, including rent and food. Some people must chose between a place to live and food to eat, and as a result they and their families go hungry in order to pay the rent.
In many communities The Salvation Army provides assistance through its churches, although in larger communities separate Community & Family Services units work full-time to provide for those in need. Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander and St. John’s each have these centres staffed by employees and volunteers who recognize the needs of those in their communities and work hard to meet those needs.
Sarah Kean, Community & Family Services Director in St. John’s reports that in an average week 70 families are served at the Salvation Army Food Bank. Families range in size from one person to 10 people and can access assistance once every four weeks and families are only able to received assistance from one food bank in the city each month. Service is coordinated through the Community Food Sharing Association.
The food bank in St. John’s receives donations through the Community Food Sharing Association and from four grocery stores in the city, however donations vary seasonally. When donations are lower the food bank must purchase food from grocery stores to meet the needs of its clients.
Food banks across the province rely on volunteers to operate and are often in need of help. Ms. Kean reports that while she deeply appreciates her volunteers some weeks there are not enough to keep up with the number of people receiving assist on food bank day.
If you are interested in volunteering at your local Salvation Army food bank contact your local Salvation Army unit.
